Latest news with #UWLaCrosse
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
UW La Crosse utilizes Win-Win Program to help finish degrees
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) – UW La Crosse is providing a chance for students who left the university early to finish their degrees. Director of the UWL Career Services Office, Becky Vianden, explains, 'Sometimes they don't even realize how close they were or that it's even possible to come back and do classes at UWL, even if they've been gone for a certain amount of time. By us reaching out to them, they're given this opportunity that can help improve their lives economically, educationally, or even career-wise to help them progress in their careers.' To be eligible for the Win-Win Program, students cannot have enrolled elsewhere in the past 2.5 years, have earned at least 50 credits, and are close to completing an associate's or bachelor's degree. Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, Sally Grunwald, adds, 'If they are close, we reach out to them and let them know that they have actually either earned their degree or are really close to earning their degree. We encourage them to reach back out to us and to finish the paperwork in order for them to get their degree.' University officials say it's usually a surprise when students receive a call from UWL years after they leave school. Grunwald explains, 'They usually see it as a great gift to them that they actually have enough to earn their degree. It can really be a life-changing event for the student to realize that the time they have spent at UW-La Crosse is time well spent.' Vianden adds that students obtaining degrees is not only beneficial for the student and the university, but also important for the state of Wisconsin. 'We think that the more students that we can help to complete their bachelor's degree or their associate degree, it will not only help themselves as an individual, but it us collectively as a state of Wisconsin to have people who have education that can help them progress in their careers and improve that state of Wisconsin.' According to university officials, the Win-Win Program has helped 126 former students over the last four years. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hmong leader Tony Yang, of La Crosse, earns Assmbly Hometown Hero award
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) – Representative Jill Billings honored Hmong Leader, NaoHoua 'Tony' Yang of La Crosse with the Assembly Hometown Hero Award. Yang was born in Laos during the Vietnam War, enduring persecution and surviving in the jungle, and eventually was granted asylum in the US. After arriving in Wisconsin, Tony learned English, graduated from Logan High School in La Crosse, and earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from UW La Crosse. Billings said, 'I was honored to welcome Tony Yang to the Assembly Chamber in the State Capitol to present him with the Hometown Hero Award. His contributions to education, cultural preservation, and community service have provided an immeasurable service to the people of La Crosse and the 95th Assembly District, and I am proud to be able to celebrate and honor Tony's service to the Coulee Region. 'As we recognize the 50th anniversary of Hmong people in Wisconsin, it is important to acknowledge and celebrate the work and contributions of people like Tony. His invaluable efforts as a community leader and educator have made the Coulee Region better and touched the lives of countless students, and I was honored to present Tony with the Hometown Hero Award.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Feel Good Friday: La Crosse Area Heritage Center opens the Hmong Story Cloth exhibition
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) – April is Hmong Heritage Month in Wisconsin and a Hmong Story Cloth exhibit is now on display at the La Crosse Area Heritage Center. The exhibit features 19 cloths that are all unique to the Hmong culture. Public historian Yia Vue explains, 'Each one encapsulates a story of the Hmong experience, whether that is recording legends and folklore or everyday life in Hmong villages.' Vue says the exhibit has been made at a perfect time, since this year is the 50th anniversary of the Secret War and many of these cloths were made during it. 'They originally were pieces of artwork, but now they act as historical documentation as they explore and express the struggles that Hmong people went through during the secret war.' La Crosse County Historical Society Curator Amy Vach reached out for assistance to help put the exhibit together. She contacted Vue as well as UW La Crosse Professor Vincent Her after receiving many of cloths through donations. 'Hmong individuals are telling us their stories, their lived experiences, and sharing what they know. Rather than an outsider coming in and inferring what they think they know about the story cloths, but them sharing their own experiences and lived culture.' Vue says it's important to tell American History with all the nuances that it deserves. 'Hmong American history is part of American history. The Secret War is part of American history. Yet it isn't told enough. It isn't educated enough to the mass populous.' The exhibition will be open Thursdays through Sundays through June 29th. Wisconsin has recognized Hmong Heritage Month statewide every year since 2004. The Badger state is home to the country's third largest Hmong population. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
La Crosse Mayoral candidates, in their own words
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) – With just a little over a week before the Spring Elections, the two finalists for mayor in La Crosse are finishing up their election campaigns. Chris Kahlow and Shaundel Washington-Spivey have spent the last few months campaigning to become the next mayor of the city of La Crosse. Both are UW La Crosse Alumni and have spent plenty of time in La Crosse after graduation. Kahlow has been a business owner and La Crosse City Council president for the last 2 years. Kahlow says, 'We have chaos and uncertainty in Washington (DC). We have political divisiveness in Madison. Now we need a leader who is steady and experienced and able to move La Crosse forward.' Shaundel Washington-Spivey has served on the La Crosse School Board and founded Black Leaders Acquiring Collective Knowledge. A local non-profit. Washington-Spivey says, 'I think it's time for us to have a mayor that understands what it's like to do grassroots organizing, be boots on the ground doing the work, listening to the people, and moving that to city hall.' Both candidates say topics like homelessness, small businesses, and affordable housing are things they will focus on if they are elected mayor. Washington-Spivey says, 'I'd be looking at making sure that we have a variety of housing in our neighborhoods and making sure our neighborhoods are accessible to everyone. In addition to working with our unhoused populations. Elevating and advancing the Pathways Home program is… definitely an initiative that I plan to proceed with. Also making sure we're proceeding with a vibrant business culture and seeing what supports we can bring from the state over into La Crosse to increase both our businesses and business support.' Kahlow explains, 'I'd be supporting strong public safety to make sure our residents and businesses are safe. It means working collaboratively on homelessness and housing issues. Making sure we have regional, state, and federal cooperation on that homelessness issue. It also means I will prioritize a mix of housing choices. we need to balance affordability with maintaining the character and charm of our neighborhoods.' If elected, Kahlow would become La Crosse's first female mayor and Washington-Spivey would become La Crosse's first African-American mayor. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
La Crosse Primary turnout
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) – Voters are hitting polling places across La Crosse to cast their votes in the February Primary Elections. This year, along with one state race, La Crosse voters will narrow the race for multiple school board seats, a District 7 city council seat, and a new mayor. City Clerk Nikki Elsen says despite all of these open seats, the city of La Crosse is only expecting around 20% voter turnout. Which is similar to past February votes. Elsen says several factors including voter burnout from the fall elections and cold weather could influence the lower turnout this February. 'The local elections generally produce a lower turnout, which is unfortunate. We want to see the voters coming out in big numbers for the local contacts. It's unfortunate, but that's what the statistics have shown.' UW La Crosse Political Science Professor Anthony Chergosky is also surprised by the lower turnout. 'Going from four candidates for mayor down to two is a really big deal because the two candidates are going to go head-to-head in the April election. So the voters' choices today are going to greatly effect the type of election that we have for mayor of La Crosse in April.' Chergosky adds that a lack of major votes at the state level are also going to lower voting numbers. 'We have the state superintendent election that is going to narrow the candidate field of three down to two, but that has not captured a lot of voter interest. There's not a lot of water cooler conversations regarding the state superintendent election.' Despite numbers expected to remain around 20% for voter turnout in La Crosse, Chergosky still expects local ballots to draw interest. 'Even though La Crosse is going to have pretty low voter turnout compared to other elections, La Crosse could have higher voter turnout than most other places in Wisconsin because the mayoral race and the school board elections are attracting at least some voter interest.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
